[quote=OneManArmy]I would like to say how I see the ideal path of "lawful evil" (moderate evil) and "chaotic evil" (absolute evil)
In a chaotic evil way, we will have to betray Minthara for the sake of the Absolute or Lolth who wants to punish her for her betrayal, lead the army, and do many disgusting deeds, both motivated and not very motivated, and in the end it is possible to turn into a Mind Flayer or gain too much power. I don't know who will play it, this way does not tempt me.
In the "lawful evil" path, I want to open Minthara's eyes to tadpoles and deception, to oppose the Absolute or play your own game together, to protect her from the clerics of Lolth, and gain her trust and true friendship. But this must be an evil role-playing. As a team and reliable allies, we will act using any method, including the possible killing of tieflings and anyone else, putting personal gain first of all, without being someone's puppets. It would be really fun and interesting. This is what will give me the pleasure of role-playing.
This is the path that will allow you to combine honor and friendship, evil roleplay and personal gain. I would like this roleplay, and I really hope that Larian will make it possible. I do not want the evil way as only "absolute evil", the moral choice and the boundaries of good and evil in some moments should be more difficult. [/quote]
Yes evil needs to be a lot more nuanced. There must be a choice between power at all cost and serving the absolute and trying to use your newly gained power and overthrow the absolute and rule yourself. Something like that. Currently the only evil option is to blindly follow the absolute, for no reason at all. And playing evil is not just murdering everyone! You should still have companions who follow you. Because they are afraid of your power. Because you threatened their life. Because you rule by fear. You should acquire devoted servants and slaves, companions who worship you and would die for you. Thats how you properly write an evil character. Look at how Knights of the Old republic 2 did it. If you play an Evil Sith Lord in that game, your followers will also become evil and one will even sacrifice herself so you gain more power. Thats what this game deserves! Evil playthrough with good writing!
Your dream lover doesn't tell you to side with the goblins. There is no incentive to raiding the grove. Its only the goblins and absolute followers who talk about great rewards. But your personal character has never even heard of the absolute, and has discovered that the True Souls are also infected by tadpoles. So why would you play stupid and help them? You want to get the tadpole out. Or, in the case of Astarion, you want to learn about the tadpole and control it. By the way, why does our questlog say "removing the Parasite" all game long? Thats not my intention! Like Astarion, my personal goal is to make use of its powers. But the game immediately pushes the player to remove the tadpole. Even though Larian devs have talked about the fact that some characters may want to keep the tadpole.
The Absolute needs more npc's which convince you that its useful if you join them. They need actual good rewards. And they need to have a choice and an effect to solving your main issue: The tadpole. The goblin quest of raiding the grove doesn't help you at all. Your goal is to find a healer, whether or not you want to keep the tadpole or not. And the first thing the goblin priestess does to you is put you in chains and leave you to die.
The rewards are just pitiful. You murder a bunch of refugees, Kadga and Zevlor. But their magic items don't compare to the magic items obtainable by the goblin leaders at all! The goblin leaders should award you with powerful magic items because you helped them raid the grove.
And the absolute itself should reward you! The questlog says "The absolute has awarded me with more power" once you finish the raiding the grove quest. But that's a lie. You get nothing. Ironically, getting the Hag to help you with your Tadpole situation and then sparing her life actually gets you a skill point. Thats what I would have expected from serving the absolute. Additional skill points, special, otherwise unobtainable feats. And skills like blessing of the absolute, which Mintharra uses! And more great skills like those you get from your dreams. Those are awesome and by far the best rewards to any questline in this game.
